Summer Clamming At Tan Trade Poem by Melanie Emikohe

no carnival duck rides with nursery rhymes
or dazzling carousels on a summer
only shabby fishing boats, chipped paints
a capsized wreck with dangling ropes
rustic domain all colors welcome
poor man's dock

digging sand neath saltwater
almost chin level
handsfree - juvenile toes raked
causeway's largest clams
clamped by the hug of a big toe
and a prehensile fourth toe
a smug grin for every bulky feel
flashing edible treasure find
bivalve hunt contest
of hometown summer friends

sleek seaweeds soothing skin
underwater growth
fingerlings on a hide-and-seek
sun smothered faces

recycled grocery bags
three quarter shell full
set for night's steamy bowl
good enough to go

getting off summer's tidal playground
dripping for sun drying
sauntering merry hopping
passed dilapidated stilt abodes
chocolate skin fishermen
retired for the day
carefree smiles stretched as the sea
feasted on fermented wine

unfiltered dawn of society
unwary and unafraid
the sea was bountiful
clamor of shells
accompanied rowdy free laughs
raced with speeding tires
one thousand gallops to home